Outdoor enthusiast, artist, craftsperson, hunter, photographer, writer, hiker, golfer, biker, runner, water skier – whatever your interests, Kirksville is for you. Kirksville boasts several public parks, including the Kiwanis all inclusive Playground, a dog park, a 30-acre eight field baseball/softball complex, and an Aquatic Center.
Thousand Hills State Park and the 573-acre Forest Park Lake offer fishing, boating, swimming, water skiing, sailing, hiking and biking trails, camping, cabin rentals, picnic areas, marina and rentals, playground facilities, and a great restaurant. Spend a day at the swim beach, hike down one of the many nature trails, enjoy the park’s naturalist presentation, or visit the Native American petroglyph site. Area lakes, rivers and forests such as Hazel Creek Lake and Big Creek State Forest house some of the nation’s best public hunting and fishing opportunities. Small and large mouth bass, perch, bluegill and catfish almost guarantee your daily limit. Hunters from all over the nation use northeast Missouri for hunting wild turkey and deer, as the area is home to thousands of acres of public and private hunting grounds.
“Click here to view the interactive Hunting & Fishing Guide for Northeast Missouri”.
Cultural events such as Truman State University’s Kohlenberg Lyceum Series bring world-renowned performances to Kirksville. In addition the university offers plays, concerts and recitals, and debates which are all open to the public.
The Red Barn Arts and Crafts Festival in the fall draws national artisans , and includes entertainment, children’s activities and dance revues. Art showings, summer concerts, music festivals, poetry readings, and an occasional dinner theater add to the entertainment venue in Kirksville.
The Northeast Missouri Fair is a week-long event held in July. It features 4-H and FFA exhibits, commercial exhibits, a wide varity of food vendors, a carnival and nationally known country music acts. Camping facilities are also available.
History plays a vital part in Kirksville’s identity. Visit the birthplace of osteopathic medicine at the Still National Osteopathic Museum, relics of the past at the Adair County Historical Society Museum in downtown Kirksville, and the E.M. Violette Museum on the Truman State University campus.
Sports enthusiasts, whether spectator or player, find Kirksville a sports haven. Kirksville Senior High School provides many opportunities for sports related programs. Collegiate sports help bring national recognition to Truman State University, with all events open to the public. Kirksville’s commitment to its residents is evident in its sports facilities. The Aquatic Center in Rotary Park offers a zero-depth entry, diving board, double-loop slide, water cannons, floatables, water tea cup and mushroom, a 6-lane indoor pool and play features for the kids and kids-at-heart. Rotary Park also includes 2 covered picnic shelters, sand volleyball, an amphitheater, a snow sledding area, a playground structure, a swing set, and a disc golf course. North Park Complex is host to baseball and softball leagues. Seven neighborhood parks have baseball fields, playgrounds, picnic facilities and wading pools.
The Adair County YMCA offers many programs ranging from soccer to water aerobics, basketball to wallyball and weight lifting to a competitive youth swim team. For additional resources on recreation, view Visit Kirksville.com
